Mixing apparatus.



UNITEDy STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE 'E invasori, or cPIcGo, IifLirNoIfs`,- ASSIGNOR` 'ro fooNi'fEc'rIoNERs AND BAKERS SUPPLY cd., oF c'HIoz'iGo, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

MIXING APPARATUS.

speiaation of 'Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. '12, 1909.

Application led 0ctober19, 1908. Serial No. 458,348.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. DIcKsoN, a cltizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mixing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to an apparatus for mixingand stirring marshmallows-and like confections, and has for its objectto provide a simple and eflicient structural arrangement and combination of parts whereby a very effective and thorough mixing and stirring of the material is effected; a rapid and convenient discharge of the material atA tained with a completion of the mixing and stirring operation, and the temperature of the material maintained at any desired degree during such mixing and stirring operation, all as will hereinafter more fullyv appear.. 4

In-the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is a longitudinal central sectional elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2, is a detail transverse section on line m-m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is

atop plan. Fig. 4, is a detail front end ele-` vation.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the supporting base plate or bed of the apparatus provided with a pair of vertical saddle exten-sions 2 for the support ofthe cylindrical mixing chamber hereinafter described. Such extensions 2 are preferably of different heights in order to support the mixing cham'- ber and its accessories in a position slightly inclined from a horizontal plane for purposes hereinafter stated.

3, is a vertical forked standard carried at' the rear end of the bed plate 1, and affording journal bearings for the carrying 4shafts of the hereinafter described mixing mechanism' by Whlch the effective and thorough mlxlng of the material is attained within the mixing chamber.

4 is-a cylindrical shell forming the circ-u` lar inclosing wall of the mixing chamber,`

of .the shell 4, and to such end said head is formed with an annular flan e 6`inside of which the rear end of said she l fits to afford Aas shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

a substantial connection. Such head is also provided with a central hub through which pass the carrying shafts of themixingl mechanism hereinafter described.

7 isan annular ring secured to the forward end of the shell 4, and provi-ded With a recess in its forward face in which fits the front en'd head 8 of the mixing chamber, and said forward head is held in place in a removablemanner by attaching bolts or other suitable fastenings.

9 is an upwardly extending neck or hopper formed on the upper partl of the front end head 8, and adapted to receive the material to be operated on and conduct the Same into the mixing chamber.

10 is the outlet orifice for the mixed ma` terial. Such orifice is formed in the lower part of the front end head 8, and is normally closed by a pivoted gate 11, as illustrated in Fi 4.

lgQ is a centrally arranged recess in the front end head 8 to afford a bearing for the forward end of the carrying shaft of the .mixing fingers hereinafter described.

bearing in a journal box carried by one of the forks of the vertical standard 3 before described.

14 are a series of radial mixing` lingers carried by theA shaft'13. and having a spiral arrangement as shown.

15 iS a. tubular shaft surrounding the aforesaid shaft 13 and having bearing near its forward endin the central hub of the rear endhead 5 of the mixing chamber, and at its rear end in'a journal box carried by the other fork of the standard aforesaid.

1G and 17 are radial arms Acarried by the tubular shaft 15 at the rear cnd of the-interior ofthe mixing chamber to form the rear end Supports for the mixing combs and spiral conveying blades hereinafter described.

18 are longitudinal bars moving in adjacent relation to the inner circular surface of the mixing chamber, and extending' the length of the same to constitutethe back of the mixing comb and Vfrom which extend inwardly the radial prongs 19 of the comb, The bars 1S `ried by the hub 2O aforesaid.

21, are a pair of conveyer blades moving i n` ace adjacent relation to the inner circular sur of the mixing chamber and extending the i length of the` same in a plane oblique to 'the longitudinal axis of the apparatus and in a direction opposite to4 that of the mixing fingers 14, before described. Such conveyer blades are attached at their. rear ends to the radial arms 17 before described, and at their forward ends to counterpart arms, 17 car- The function of suchconveyer blades is to impart to that portion ofthe material adjacent to the'circular wall of the mixing chamber a longitu inal movement in a direction toward the f ward end of said chamber, while the inner portion of such material is moved in an opposite direction by the spirally arrangedmixing fingers 14 aforesaid, tocause an endless circulation'of the material during the operation of the apparatus. A nother function of the conveyer blades 21 is -to cause a positive discharge of the material on the completion of the mixing operation and an opening of the outlet gate 11 aforesaid.

22 is a bevel gear carried by the tubular @shaft 15; and 23 is al companion bevel gear carried by the'central shaft 13.

24 is an intermediate driving'bevel gear meshing with and driving the gears 22 and 23 in reversed directions. Said gear 24 is carried by a transversely arranged shaft upon which are also mounted the pulleys 25, by which the apparatus is driven.

With the apparatus of the described con.- struction, the arrangement of the mixing chamber in a positionslightly inclined from a horizontal plane, is of material value in effecting a proper and thorough mixture of marshmallow and like confections, and the subsequent rapid discharge of the mixed material from the mixing chamber.

26 is a coil of pipe encirclingthe periphery ofthe shell' 4 of the mixing chamber, with its respective ends having counterpart valved inlet and outlet pipes 27, 28 and 29,

" 30, through which either cold water or steam l can be caused to circulate through the coil 26, to maintain the mixing chamber at the temperature best adapted to a perfect and thorough mixture or beating of the manshmallow or like confection. f With the above described construction,

. when a'circulation` of water isA desired, the

valve in the water'inlet pipe 27 and the valve in y:the water outlet pipe 28 are opened,

While the valves in the steam inlet andv steam outlet pipes 29 and 30 are closed.

. VVhen-al circulation of steam is'desired, the valve in the steam inlet pipe J429 and the.

- constituting a mixin portedin a substantial y horizontal position,

valve in the steam outlet pipe 30 are opened, and the valves in the water inlet and Water outlet pipes 27 and 28 are closed.

Havmg thus fully described my said invention what I claim as vnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mixing apparatus for confections, thecombination of a closed circular casing chamber and supinlet and .outlet openings at one end of said casing, a mlxmg mechanism y withm -said chamber, the same comprising a longitudinal shaft carrying a series o spirally arranged mixing ingers, a tubular shaft surroundingsaid longitudinal shaft, a pair of mixing combs and conveyer blades operatively connected to said tubular shaft andI gearing connections for imparting reversedrotation to said shafts, and means surrounding said casing for maintaining a predetermined temperature in said cas1ng,'substan tially as set forth.V f

2. In a mixing apparatus for confections, the combination of a closed cylindrical casing constituting a mixin chamber and supported 'in a position inc inedfrom ahorizontal plane, inlet and outlet openings at one end of said vcasin a mixing mechanism within said4 casing; t e same comprising a longitudinal shaft carrying a series of lspirally arranged mixing fingers, a tubular shaft surrounding saidl longitudinal shaft, a pair of mixing combs and conveyer blades operatively connected -to said tubular shaft and gearing connections for imparting reversed rotation to said shafts, and means 'surrounding said casing for maintaining a predetermined temperature in said casing, substantially as set forth.

3. In a mixing apparatus for confections, the combination of a closed circular casing constituting a mixing chamber and supported in a-substantially horizontal position,

inlet and outlet openin s at one end of said casing, a mixing mec anism Within said chamber, the same comprising a longitudinal shaft ca rrying a series of spirally ar` ranged mixing fingers, a tubular shaft surrounding said longitudinal shaft, a pair of mixing combs and -conveyer blades operatively connected to said tubular shaft and gearing connections for im arting reversed rotation to said shafts; and'iiieans surrounding said casing for maintaining a predetermined temperature in said casing, the same comprising a coil of pipe encircling the casing and having valved inlet and outlet pipes 'for the introduction of steam or water, substantially as set forth.

4. In a mixing apparatus for confections, the combination of a closed cylindrical casing constituting a mixing chamber and supported in a position inclined from a horizontal plane, inlet and outlet openings at one end of said casing, a mixing mechanism within said casing, the saine comprising a longitudinal shaft carrying a series of spirally arranged mixing fingers, a tubular shaft surrounding said longitudinal shaft, a pair of mixing combs and conveyer blades operatively Connected to said tubular shaft and gearing connections for imparting reversed rotation to said shafts, and means lsurrounding said casing for maintaining a predetermined temperature in said casing,

the .same comprising a coil of pipe Vencircling the-casing and having valved inlet and outlet pipes for the introduction of steam or Water, substantially as set forth..

Signed. at Chicago, Illinois, this 115th day of October 1908.

GEORGE 'rf DioKsoN.

l Vitnesses:

ROBERT BURNS, HENRY MOE. 

